Welsh Owen building holds grand opening

Tim Banks, APM’s CEO, invited visitors to the grand opening of the Welsh Owen Building in Charlottetown Friday. Formerly the iconic Kays Bros. Building, the Welsh Owen has long been considered a significant historical building on the Island.

Taweel, Heather. Welsh Owen building holds grand opening, The Guardian 20 September 2013

APM held the grand opening of the Welsh Owen Building on Lower Queen Street today, celebrating the arrival of new tenants, including Electronic Arts.

APM says hundreds of visitors came out to the grand opening event, touring the historic facillity formerly known as the Kays Bros. Building.

The Welsh Owen was at risk for demolition because of a severe state of deterioration it had fallen into when APM purchased the property last year and undertook the project in an effort to preserve and revitalize it.

Electronic Arts' All Play label, which creates games for mobile devices and online environments, will bring studio operations from Bight Games and Other Ocean Interactive in Charlottetown to the Welsh Owen Building.

EA All Play studio operations director Richard Turner says EA will lease the third and fourth floors of the building, providing enough room to accommodate the current teams with room to grow as needs arise. EA will officially move into the space on Oct. 11.